CORPUS CHRISTI - A recount is possible after two Corpus Christi ISD at-large trustee candidates were separated by one vote in Tuesday's election.

Candidate Jane D. Bell trailed incumbent Tony Diaz by one vote as the Corpus Christi Independent School District race's unofficial returns came in during the wee hours of Wednesday morning. Those totals are likely to change, however, as officials count provisional and overseas ballots.

Diaz led Bell with 12,720 votes, or 12.92 percent, in Election Day returns.

Bell had 12,719 votes, or 12.92 percent.

The district had elections for its three at-large seats, as well as its District 2 seat. District 2 incumbent Lucy Rubio didn't have an opponent.

John Marez, an outgoing city councilman, and Hector "Coach" Salinas, a teacher at Richard Milburn Academy, were the top two vote-getters in the at-large race. If the vote total holds, Diaz would garner the third at-large spot.

CCISD officials had not received an official recount request as of Wednesday afternoon, said Roland Hernandez, the district's chief administrative officer, who oversees the district's elections process.

Diaz said he was in a wait-and-see mode until district officials canvass their results Nov. 15.

Bell said she also will wait on the canvass. She said trailing by one vote is heartbreaking, but there always is a margin of error. That's why she is interested in seeking a recount, she said.

"I feel that I owe it to myself, and the people that voted for me," she said.

Nueces County Clerk Diana T. Barrera said a county ballot board is set to meet early next week to determine which provisional and overseas votes are legitimate. Tuesday is the last day the county will accept overseas ballots, Barrera said.

TIMELINE

Tuesday: Last day for Nueces County officials to accept outstanding overseas ballots. Officials also plan to have the ballot board meet during the week to determine which provisional and overseas votes to process as official votes. Information pertaining to the CCISD at-large races would then go to school district officials.

Nov. 15: Corpus Christi Independent School District plans to canvass their votes, making the results official. After votes are official, then a candidate can request a recount.

Nov. 26: CCISD officials plan to swear in newly elected school board candidates during a 3:30 p.m. ceremony in the district's boardroom, 801 Leopard St.

Source: CCISD and Nueces County Clerk's Office

Editor's note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed the time for the Corpus Christi Independent School District board of trustees' Nov. 26 meeting.